On 4 June 2025, a one-day specialized training on the prevention and suppression of wildlife and plant trafficking was held at the Tune Aeropolis Hotel KLIA in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organized by Freeland in partnership with the International Wildlife Trust and supported by the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, the session gathered 31 participants (24 male, 7 female) from seven airport-related government and private sector agencies.
Represented agencies included the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Aviation Security, MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd, Pos Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd, and Raya Airways. These participants, comprising customs, cargo handlers, airline staff, and airport security, play a crucial role in the early detection and prevention of wildlife trafficking through air transport.
The training was conducted under the Trafficking Free Enterprises (TFE) initiative, a capacity-building program designed to enhance stakeholder knowledge, inter-agency collaboration, and practical responses to transnational environmental crimes. The ASEANAPOL Secretariat was represented by DSP Suresh Subramaniam and Ms. Suhasini Gunasagaran, under the supervision of Executive Director Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan. Their participation signified the Secretariat’s continued commitment to proactive engagement in regional law enforcement partnerships.
Participants expressed highly positive feedback, with strong interest in more specialized and advanced modules. The constructive engagement reflected not only the relevance of the training content but also the aviation sector’s increasing awareness and willingness to collaborate in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
Southeast Asia remains a critical region for wildlife crime due to its rich biodiversity and rapidly growing transportation infrastructure. The expansion of air travel has unintentionally created more opportunities for the illicit trade of endangered flora and fauna. Thus, cooperation between aviation stakeholders and law enforcement is vital to strengthening regional defenses.
This session forms part of the TRIPOD II project (Targeting Regional Investigations and Policing Opportunities for Development II) and was generously supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). TRIPOD II represents a long-term commitment to building the capacity of frontliners to detect and prevent wildlife trafficking.
At the heart of this initiative is ASEANAPOL’s valued partnership with Freeland, which stands as its only like-minded partner actively delivering on-the-ground programs to combat wildlife and environmental crimes. This collaboration continues to serve as a model for joint action and multi-sectoral engagement.
Looking ahead, ASEANAPOL reaffirms its resolve to deepen its partnership with Freeland and other future allies, paving the way for more impactful training, operations, and policy development. Through these united efforts, ASEANAPOL strives to foster a region that is more resilient, responsive, and ready to safeguard its natural heritage for generations to come.